Environmental condition detector with validated personalized verbal messages

ABSTRACT

An environmental condition detector emits only safe, validated verbal messages recorded in a user&#39;s voice to help occupants of a building respond safely to sensed environmental conditions. The message emitted in the user&#39;s voice is generally a familiar voice to other building occupants to better capture their attention, and only certain, safe, user messages are validated for use thereby eliminating the chance that the user may unknowingly record an unsafe message to be emitted during a sensed environmental condition. The verbal message is recorded by a user and is analyzed through speech recognition to determine if the user-recorded message can be validated as containing safe content. A user-recorded message found to match manufacturer preprogrammed message content is validated and selected to be audibly emitted in the user&#39;s voice when an environmental condition is sensed. Various embodiments include single station units, interconnected units, or centrally controlled security systems.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional application No.61/440,433 filed Feb. 8, 2011 and provisional application No. 61/537,035filed Sep. 20, 2011, both of which are hereby incorporated by referenceherein in their entireties.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to an environmental condition detector using afamiliar user's recorded verbal message to notify an occupant of adwelling or building of the presence of a potentially hazardousenvironmental condition and to provide instructions on how to safelyrespond to the condition. The familiar user's recorded verbal message isvalidated for use by matching the familiar user's recorded message,through speech recognition, to at least one manufacturer pre-programmedmessage stored in the electronic memory of the detector, therebyallowing only certain, safe and validated message content to be emittedin the familiar user's voice when an environmental condition isdetected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Research has indicated that certain segments of the population (forexample, young children and the elderly) may be more easily awakenedfrom sleep through the use of a human voice annunciation in addition toor in place of a tonal pattern emitted from a life safety deviceincluding but not limited environmental condition detectors. Further, ithas been shown that the use of a voice familiar to the sleeping personmay even be more effective in awakening a person and alerting him or herto the presence of a potential hazard. Therefore, the use of life safetydevices such as environmental condition detectors which emit a messageusing a familiar voice can be useful to help notify persons of theexistence of potentially hazardous conditions in their environment. Oneway to accomplish this is to have a user familiar to other occupants ofa dwelling or building equipped with an environmental condition detectorunit record a verbal message of their own original content into anelectronic memory of the detector unit to be played audibly upon thesensing of an environmental condition. One potential problem with thisscenario is that the user recording the message may not record a messagethat is most helpful or safe to other occupants of the dwelling orbuilding. In a worst case scenario, a user recording his or her ownmessages could further endanger the other building occupants byunknowingly providing dangerous instructions on how to respond to asensed environmental condition. Since the specific factors surroundingeach hazardous condition occurring in a dwelling or building aredifferent, what may seem like reasonable directions to a particularperson on how to respond to one hazardous situation may prove disastrousin another situation. For example, a person may choose to recordinstructions to open a window in response to the presence carbonmonoxide to provide fresh air; however, if the same instructions wererecorded as a response to the presence of fire, life threateningconditions could occur in certain situations. As another example, anill-advised user could choose to record his or her own alarm tonalpatterns or other sounds that could confuse other occupants of thedwelling or building who are accustomed to the tonal patterns which havespecific meaning with respect to the type of condition that wasdetected. As another example, a well meaning parent could record amessage for a child to wait in the child's bedroom until a parent comesto get them. When an unpredictable, hazardous condition occurs, theparent may not be home or may be unable to get to the child's bedroomcausing increased risk to the child if the parent never arrives. Ingeneral, the common users of life safety devices, while they may havethe best of intentions, quite often lack the requisite knowledge to giveconsistently appropriate instructions to others on how to remain safe ina potentially hazardous situation. This is particularly the case when auser records a message of their own content without any knowledge of thedetails of what a future hazardous situation may involve.

The various embodiments of the instant invention provide the desiredalerting feature of a familiar voice during the detection of anenvironmental condition to effectively capture the attention or awakenother occupants of a dwelling or building while also providing thecritical additional safety feature of not permitting unsafe instructionsto be audibly broadcast to the occupants trying to deal with apotentially hazardous condition. Research has shown that young childrenare a significant part of the population who may benefit most by hearinga familiar voice during an emergency situation, especially while theyare sleeping. Therefore, it is particularly important to limit messagesin a familiar voice emitted during potentially hazardous situations toonly messages with safe content since young children, in particular,will not likely have the ability to clearly decide how to safely respondthemselves to a potentially life-threatening situation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the potentially serious problem describedabove by permitting a user to record verbal messages and instructions inhis or her own voice but only to the extent that the content of themessages match pre-set messages that are pre-programmed into thedetector unit from the manufacturer. Therefore, the content of theuser-recorded verbal messages that can be emitted in the user's voiceduring the sensing of an environmental condition is limited to only safemessages as determined by the manufacturer which is message validation.During set-up of the environmental condition detector unit, the userrefers to a menu (printed menu or audible menu emitted from the detectorin one embodiment) of acceptable messages that can be possibly validatedusing speech recognition. As the user speaks the desired message into anaudio input transducer connected to the electronic circuitry of thedetector unit, the message is electronically stored (recorded) andspeech recognition (and message matching) circuitry attempts torecognize and electronically match the user recorded message to one ofthe manufacturer pre-programmed messages in the electronic memory of theunit. If the speech recognition and message matching circuitryrecognizes the message entered in the user's voice as being a match to amanufacturer pre-programmed message, then the user's recorded message isvalidated and is electronically identified in the electronic memory tobe audibly emitted in the user's voice when the environmental conditiondetector senses a potentially hazardous condition. If the user's recitedverbal message during the set-up mode is not recognized as a match to amanufacturer pre-programmed message, then the user's message is rejected(not validated), cleared from the electronic memory, and not identifiedto be audibly emitted when the environmental condition detector senses apotentially hazardous condition. The detector unit will provide audibleand/or visual feedback to notify the user if the verbal message the userattempted to enter in his or her voice was validated (accepted) or not(rejected). In one, embodiment, if no user recited, verbal message canbe validated, then a user may select a verbal message from a menu ofmanufacturer, pre-programmed verbal messages to be audibly emitted inthe manufacturer's pre-programmed voice when the environmental conditiondetector senses a potentially hazardous condition. In anotherembodiment, if no user recited, verbal message can be validated after apre-set number of attempts (3, 4, or 5 attempts as non-limitingexamples), then a default, manufacturer pre-programmed verbal messagewill be audibly emitted though an audio output transducer (speaker) inthe manufacturer's pre-programmed voice when the environmental conditiondetector senses a potentially hazardous condition. In one embodiment,the speech recognition and message matching circuitry only receivesverbal messages from the audio input transducer during the set-up modeand is inactive otherwise. In another embodiment, the speech recognitionand message matching circuitry may receive verbal messages from theaudio input transducer at any time electrical power is supplied to thedetector unit for receiving user spoken commands to remotely control thefunction and testing of the detector unit.

Any verbal message emitted from the detector unit, not in a set-up mode,is generally emitted during a silent period(s) within any tonal patternthat may be emitted from an environmental condition detector when anenvironmental condition is sensed. In one embodiment, the verbal messageemitted from the detector unit is interleaved within the tonal patternand is emitted in more than one silent period of the tonal pattern. Inanother embodiment, the verbal message emitted from the detector unit isemitted partially in one silent period of a tonal pattern and partiallyin at least another silent period of the tonal pattern.

In general, there can be more than one message audibly emitted for anyone or more types of environmental condition sensed. In one embodiment,the user may record a person's name which is not stored in thepre-programmed memory of the unit from the manufacturer to be mosteffective in awakening or gaining attention of a particular person.

The user-recorded messages that may be validated by speech recognitioncircuitry to be audibly emitted in the user's voice from a detector unitduring the sensing of an environmental condition are limited to thosemessages that match the content of the manufacturer pre-programmedverbal messages in electronic memory of the unit. A few illustrativeexamples of manufacturer pre-programmed verbal messages include, withoutlimitation:

“Caution, carbon monoxide. Evacuate.”

“Caution, carbon monoxide. Evacuate immediately and seek fresh air.”

“Caution, gas detected. Evacuate. Do not turn on any lights.”

“Caution, Smoke detected.”

“Caution, Smoke detected. Exit safely to meeting location.”

“Caution, Smoke detected. Do not open door if hot to touch”

“Caution, Smoke detected. Evacuate but do not use elevator.”

“Caution, Smoke detected. Evacuate staying close to floor.”

“Caution, Intruder on the premises.”

A few illustrative examples of manufacturer pre-programmed verbalmessages along with persons' names which are not stored in thepre-programmed memory of the unit from the manufacturer (example namesshown in all capital letters below) may include, without limitation:

“JOHN, wake up. There is a fire in the house.”

“MARY, wake up. Carbon monoxide is in the house, go outside now.”

“JOHN, wake up. There is a fire in the house.”

“MARY, wake up. Gas is leaking. Leave immediately. Do not turn on anylights.”

“Wake up. There is a fire in the house, JOHN.”

“Wake up, JOHN. There is a fire in the house.”

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the components of the environmentalcondition detector with validated personalized verbal messages.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the components of the environmentalcondition detector with validated personalized verbal messages in acentrally controlled system.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating how a user's verbal message ismatched to a manufacturer pre-programmed verbal message and validatedbefore being identified to be audibly emitted when an environmentalcondition is sensed.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating how a user may option to use amanufacturer pre-programmed message to be audibly emitted when anenvironmental condition is sensed if the user does not wish to record amessage in his or her own voice. This may be useful if the user'smessage recorded in their own voice, for any reason, cannot match anymanufacturer pre-programmed verbal message.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating how a user may option to record aperson's name in his or her own voice as a portion of the verbal messageto be audibly emitted when an environmental condition is sensed.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating how a user may option to record aperson's name in his or her own voice as a portion of the verbal messageto be audibly emitted when an environmental condition is sensed and alsoillustrating how a user may option to use a manufacturer pre-programmedmessage to be audibly emitted when an environmental condition is sensedif the user does not wish to record a message in their own voice.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the components of the environmentalcondition detector with validated personalized verbal messages using apersonal computing device to facilitate the set-up mode and to simplifythe detector components needed after the set-up mode is complete.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While embodiments of this invention can take many different forms,specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will bedescribed herein in detail with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principlesof the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to theillustrated specific embodiments.

An exemplary environmental condition detector with validatedpersonalized verbal messages 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1. Theelectronic control circuitry 130 is electronically connected to thespeech recognition and message matching circuitry 120, the electronicmemory 140, the audio output transducer 160, the environmental conditionsensor 150, the function control interface 180 and the power supply 170.During a period when the environmental condition sensor 150 senses anenvironmental condition, the electronic control circuitry 130 emits anaudible alarm via the audio output transducer 160 to notify persons inthe vicinity of the environmental condition detector that a potentiallyhazardous condition is being sensed. The audible alarm comprises apersonalized verbal message selected by the user in the user's voice.The audible alarm may also comprise a tonal pattern with the verbalmessage interleaved within silent periods of the tonal pattern. Theaudio input transducer 110, electronically connected to the speechrecognition and message matching circuitry 120, is used to receiveverbal input from the user (user-provided message) when theenvironmental condition detector with validated personalized verbalmessages 100 is being prepared for use in the set-up mode. In the set-upmode, the user verbalizes (speaks) a message into the audio inputtransducer 110 (for example, a microphone which transforms theverbalized message into an electrical signal) whereby the speechrecognition and message matching circuitry 120 under control of theelectronic control circuitry 130 electronically stores and analyzes theuser verbalized message to determine if that message matches anelectronic form of at least one manufacturer pre-programmed verbalmessage stored in electronic memory 140. If the user's verbalizedmessage is found to match manufacturer pre-programmed message contentstored in electronic memory 140 within a manufacturer predefined speechrecognition error tolerance or error probability, the stored, userverbalized message is validated as comprising safe message content, and,thus is electronically identified to be audibly emitted in the user'svoice from the audio output transducer 160 when an environmentalcondition is sensed by environmental condition sensor 150. Therefore,only safe, user-spoken message content validated to be safe byelectronic comparison to manufacturer pre-programmed and approvedmessage content can be output in the user's voice when an environmentalcondition is sensed. A safe message or safe message content includes amessage or message content which has been approved by the manufacturerof the environmental condition detector to be an appropriate and safemessage or message content to be audibly emitted when a particularenvironmental condition is sensed. Validation of the user-providedmessage results in electronically identifying the user-provided messagein the electronic memory 140 by pointing to an electronic memory addressof the user-provided message in one embodiment. In at least oneembodiment, the manufacturer pre-programmed messages have beenpre-analyzed by speech recognition electronic software and converted toreduced electronic forms well known in speech recognition for signalcomparison. The reduced electronic forms of the manufacturerpre-programmed verbal message are stored in electronic memory 140 fromthe factory to facilitate message matching with user-provided verbalmessages which require speech recognition analysis after the user speaksa verbal message or message segment during a set-up mode. Electronicmemory 140 can be comprised of parallel or serial memory.

The electronic control circuitry 130 is comprised of electroniccircuitry which controls the overall functions of the environmentalcondition detector with validated personalized verbal messages 100including, but not limited to, determining when the environmentalcondition sensor 150 has detected an environmental condition,controlling the speech recognition and message matching circuitry 120,identifying the verbal message to be audibly emitted when theenvironmental condition sensor 150 senses an environmental condition,entering and retrieving verbal messages into and from the electronicmemory 140, driving the audio output transducer 160, controllingoperation of the audio input transducer 110 to receive verbal messagesfrom the user, controlling the set-up mode to prompt the user and torecord a user's verbal message, determining if a battery back-up of thepower supply 170 has sufficient voltage to power the electroniccircuits, etc. The electronic control circuitry 130 is comprised of anASIC in at least one embodiment, programmable circuitry such as aprogrammable microprocessor in another embodiment and a combination of aprogrammable circuitry and one or more ASIC's in yet another embodiment.In one embodiment, the speech recognition and message matching circuitry120 comprises, at least in part, speech recognition circuitry such as,but not limited specifically to, a Sensory Incorporated NLP-5xintegrated circuit chip with parallel and serial electronic memory. Thepower supply 170 is a battery power supply in one embodiment of theinvention and is an alternating current power supply with an optionalbattery back-up in another embodiment. In one embodiment, the audiooutput transducer 160 is comprised of a plurality of output transducerswhere one output transducer design may be more effective at emittingverbal messages and another output transducer may be more effective atemitting alarm tones. For example, a simple piezo-electric outputtransducer may be more effective at emitting alarm tones and a speakermaybe more effective at emitting voice messages. In at least oneembodiment, the amplitude of the user's verbal message must meet orexceed a pre-defined minimum threshold to be accepted in addition tomessage matching validation to assure that dwelling occupants can hearthe user's verbal message when it is emitted. If the pre-defined minimumthreshold is not met, the user is either audibly or visually prompted tore-enter his or her message in a louder voice.

In order to conserve power in at least one embodiment of the inventiononce the set-up mode is completed, the speech recognition and messagematching circuitry 120 and audio input transducer 110 are de-energizedor placed in a low current draw mode (sleep mode) by the electroniccontrol circuitry 130. The set-up mode can be entered by activation ofthe function control interface 180, connected to the electronic controlcircuitry 130, which is a user interface that comprises one or moremanually operated electric contacts in one embodiment and/or a receiverof radiant energy, such as but not limited to infrared light, in anotherembodiment. One function of the function control interface 180 is toplace the environmental condition detector with validated personalizedverbal messages 100 into the set-up mode where user recorded verbalizedmessages may be entered following verbal and/or visual prompts. Theelectronic memory 140 also stores manufacturer pre-programmed verbalinstructions to guide and prompt (manufacturer message prompts) the userthrough the set-up mode. In another embodiment, the environmentalcondition detector with validated personalized verbal messages 100automatically enters the set-up mode upon power-up such as insertingbatteries or connecting to AC power. In at least one embodiment, theuser is verbally prompted to record a personalized message in sequentialsegments of the message in order to facilitate message entry and tofacilitate speech recognition and message matching with pre-programmed,manufacturer messages stored in electronic memory 140. Typically,message segments are more accurately repeated by users when prompted andare more rapidly processed electronically than are entire messages.

The speech recognition and message matching circuitry 120 utilizesspeech recognition technology well known in the art of speech and voicerecognition. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, the speechrecognition and message matching circuitry 120 employs firmware/softwarethat analyzes speaker-independent verbal messages. This method of speechrecognition needs no prior training for the speech recognition andmessage matching circuitry 120 to become accustomed to a particularperson's speech patterns and characteristics, and this method typicallyperforms well when there are limited numbers of words, phrases, orsentences to be recognized.

In another embodiment of the invention, a more robust speech recognitionsystem is used whereby the user trains the speech recognition system byreciting a list of pre-scripted words, phrases, or sentences into thespeech recognition and message matching circuitry 120 through the audioinput transducer 110 where the specific user's speech patterns andcharacteristics are analyzed. The speech recognition system can then usethe specific user's voice patterns and characteristics to help recognizeand match user verbal messages that were entered during the set-up modeof the environmental condition detector with validated personalizedverbal messages 100. Thus, the training mode of the speech recognitionsystem in this embodiment would occur in addition to the set-up modedescribed previously. Training modes of speech recognition systems forspeaker dependent speech recognition are well known in the art of speechrecognition.

In one embodiment of the invention, a housing is used to enclose theaudio input transducer 110, the speech recognition and message matchingcircuitry 120, electronic control circuitry 130, electronic memory 140,the environmental condition sensor 150, and the audio output transducer160.

It is understood that in all embodiments of this invention that theenvironmental condition sensor 150, 250, or 350 may comprise a singlesensor and sensor type or more than one sensor and more than one sensortype known in the art. Illustrative examples of the types of single ormultiple sensors that environmental condition sensor 150, 250, or 350comprises are, without limitation, a smoke sensor, a fire sensor, acarbon monoxide sensor, a gas sensor, a thermal sensor, a motion sensor,a vibration sensor, a glass break sensor, an intrusion sensor, amagnetic switch sensor, an optical sensor, an earthquake sensor, animage sensor, a water sensor, a wave sensor, a pressure sensor, aradiation sensor, or an acoustic sensor. As a further example, oneembodiment of an environmental condition detector with validatedpersonalized verbal messages 100 includes both a smoke sensor and acarbon monoxide sensor. When multiple sensor types are used, sensing ofa particular environmental condition by the environmental conditionsensor 150 prompts the electronic control circuitry 130 to audibly emita particular corresponding verbal message through the audio outputtransducer 160.

In one embodiment of the invention, the environmental condition detectorwith validated personalized verbal messages 100 is a single station unitthat operates without connection to any other unit however, it may beconnected to alternating current for power, if needed. In oneembodiment, all of the components of the environmental conditiondetector with validated personalized verbal messages 100 are locatedwithin or in close proximity to a housing. The housing permits accessknown in the art for each sensor type so that the environmentalcondition can be sensed by the type of environmental condition sensor150. For example, for a smoke detector or hazardous gas detector, thehousing includes slots or holes for smoke or gas to enter the housingand contact the sensor(s).

In another embodiment of the invention, the environmental conditiondetector with validated personalized verbal messages 100 is a multiplestation system comprising at least two interconnected detector stations.A station is a fully functional environmental condition detector withvalidated personalized verbal messages 100. The interconnection betweenstations is through well known wireless communication (such as radiofrequency) or hardwired interconnection. In one embodiment, all of thecomponents of the environmental condition detector with validatedpersonalized verbal messages 100 are located within or in closeproximity to the respective housings of each station unit with exceptionof an alternating or direct current power supply and any interconnectingwires comprising hardwire interconnection if said wires are differentthan those of the alternating or direct current power supply. Eachhousing permits access known in the art for each sensor type so that theenvironmental condition can be sensed by the type of environmentalcondition sensor 150. The multiple station system can operate withoutneed of a central control panel since each station can functionindependently and can communicate the presence of an environmentalcondition with the other interconnected stations through wireless orhardwired interconnections.

In one embodiment, the function control interface 180 is configured as acontact switch which, when activated, will test the functionality of theenvironmental condition detector with validated personalized verbalmessages 100 including audibly emitting any verbal message that would beemitted in response to the sensing of an environmental condition sensedby the environmental condition sensor 150. Prolonged actuation of thefunction control interface 180 or repeated activation can also cause theenvironmental condition detector with validated personalized verbalmessages 100 to enter the set-up mode.

In another embodiment of the invention, if the user chooses not torecord a verbal message in his or her own voice, the user may select atleast one of a manufacturer pre-programmed verbal message, to be audiblyemitted when an environmental condition is sensed, by setting anelectronic switch or selecting one or more electrical jumper positionsconnected to the electronic control circuitry 130.

In yet another embodiment, after a pre-defined number of user attemptsto re-enter a verbal message resulting in a message rejection(non-validation) by the speech recognition and message matchingcircuitry 120, the user is no longer prompted to re-enter a verbalmessage and a default safety message will be played in thepre-programmed manufacturer voice through the audio output transducer160 when the environmental condition sensor senses an environmentalcondition.

In one embodiment of the invention, the user selects the message he/shedesires from a written script (written menu) provided by themanufacturer. In another embodiment, the electronic control circuitry130 audibly emits the possible acceptable messages to record (audiblemenu) as an audible verbal prompt for the user through an audio outputtransducer 160 in a manufacturer, pre-programmed voice. The acceptablemanufacturer pre-programmed messages may be audibly emitted in total orin sequential message segments so the user can more accurately speak themessage as segments of the message. As a non-limiting example, theaudible verbal prompt to the user may be a first message segment, “Nowsay ‘Caution, fire in the house!’” and then the user speaks the firstmessage segment “Caution, fire in the house!” in his/her voice into theaudio input transducer 110. Then the audible verbal prompt to the usermay be a second message segment, as a non-limiting example, “Now say‘Follow our escape plan now!’” whereby the user speaks the secondmessage segment “Follow our escape plan now!” in his/her voice into theaudio input transducer 110. The end result of this non-limitingillustrative example would be the playing of following message in theuser's voice when an environmental condition is detected, “Caution, firein the house! Follow our escape plan now!” In this embodiment, thespeech recognition and message matching circuitry 120 attempts torecognize and validate each message segment the user speaks byelectronically matching each message segment with a segment of amanufacturer pre-programmed message stored in electronic memory 140. Ifthe first message segment is not recognized and validated, then the useris prompted to re-speak the first message segment. A message segment isrecognized and validated before the user is prompted to enter anysubsequent message segments in this embodiment. In other words, theaudible verbal prompt is a manufacturer pre-recorded, verbalinstructional message delivered in at least two audible, sequentialmessage segments whereby the user repeats (speaks) sequential messagesegments into the microphone as prompted for each message segment by theaudible verbal prompt.

In another embodiment of the invention (FIG. 2), the environmentalcondition detector with validated personalized verbal messages 200 isconfigured as a centrally controlled security system for a dwelling orbuilding whereby the environmental condition sensor 250 is remotelypositioned with respect to a central location (central control panel205) where the speech recognition and message matching circuitry 220,electronic control circuitry 230, and electronic memory 240 reside. Inthis embodiment, the audio output transducer 260 may be located at theposition of the environmental condition sensor 250 or at a remotelocation or at the central control panel 205 as shown. Multipleenvironmental condition sensors 250 may be hardwired or wirelesslyconnected to the electronic control circuitry 230, and all environmentalcondition sensors 250 need not sense the same type of environmentalcondition. In a wirelessly connected sensor version of the centrallycontrolled security system embodiment, the electronic control circuitry230 also includes a wireless receiver and the environmental conditionsensors 250 also include a wireless transmitter such as a radiofrequency transmitter to communicate with the radio frequency receiver.

The flow diagram in FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the basicoperational logic of the set-up mode of the environmental conditiondetector with validated personalized verbal messages 100. Once theset-up mode is entered, the user is visually, audibly, or otherwiseprompted to record a verbal message in his or her own voice from a menuof possible manufacturer pre-programmed messages. The user then speaks aselected message into the audio input transducer 110 and the user'sspoken message is recorded into electronic memory 140. The user'srecorded message may contain a single word, a phrase(s), or asentence(s). The speech recognition and message matching circuitry 120under control of the electronic control circuitry 130 attempts toelectronically match the message phoneme(s), word(s), phrase(s), orsentence(s) to those of at least one manufacturer pre-programmed messagestored in the electronic memory 140 within a pre-defined speechrecognition error tolerance well known in the art. If the speechrecognition and message matching circuitry 120 under control of theelectronic control circuitry 130 determines that the user's recordedverbal message matches an electronic form of a manufacturerpre-programmed verbal message (a safe message) within the predefinedspeech recognition error tolerance or error probability, then the user'srecorded verbal message is considered safe, is validated, and themessage is electronically identified to be audibly emitted in the user'svoice when an environmental condition is sensed by the environmentalcondition sensor 150. If the speech recognition and message matchingcircuitry 120 under control of the electronic control circuitry 130determines that the user's recorded verbal message does not match amanufacturer pre-programmed verbal message within the predefined speechrecognition error tolerance or error probability, the user's verbalmessage is rejected and the user is visually, audibly, or otherwiseprompted to re-record a verbal message to attempt to match amanufacturer pre-programmed verbal message pre-programmed in theelectronic memory 140. Once a user's recorded verbal message isvalidated as a match to a manufacturer pre-programmed verbal message,the user's recorded verbal message is electronically identified in theelectronic memory 140 to be audibly emitted in the user's voice when anenvironmental condition is sensed by the environmental condition sensor150, the set-up mode is exited.

The flow diagram in FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the operationallogic of the set-up mode of the environmental condition detector withvalidated personalized verbal messages 100 whereby a user can option outof recording a message in his or her voice and instead default to aselected, manufacturer pre-programmed verbal message. Once the set-upmode is entered, the user is visually, audibly, or otherwise prompteddecide if he or she wishes to record a verbal message in his or her ownvoice matching at least one message from a menu of possible manufacturerpre-programmed messages. If the user does not wish to record a messagein his or her own voice, then the user activates the functional controlinterface 180 or verbally responds to advance to an audibly played menuof manufacturer pre-preprogrammed verbal messages from which the usercan, by activating the functional control interface 180, select amessage to be audibly emitted in the manufacturer pre-programmed voicewhen an environmental condition is sensed by the environmental conditionsensor 150. The set-up mode is then exited. However, if the user doeswish to record a message in his or her own voice, then the user thenspeaks a selected message into the audio input transducer 110, and theuser's spoken message is recorded into electronic memory 140. The user'srecorded message may contain a single word, phrase(s), or sentence(s).The speech recognition and message matching circuitry 120 under controlof the electronic control circuitry 130 attempts to match the messagephoneme(s) word(s), phrase(s), or sentence(s) to at least onemanufacturer pre-programmed message stored in the electronic memory 140.If the speech recognition and message matching circuitry 120 undercontrol of the electronic control circuitry 130 determines that theuser's recorded verbal message matches a manufacturer pre-programmedverbal message, then the user's recorded verbal message is validated andthe message is electronically identified to be audibly emitted in theuser's voice when an environmental condition is sensed by theenvironmental condition sensor 150. If the speech recognition andmessage matching circuitry 120 under control of the electronic controlcircuitry 130 determines that the user's recorded verbal message doesnot match a manufacturer pre-programmed verbal message, the user'sverbal message is rejected and the user is visually, audibly, orotherwise prompted to re-record a verbal message to attempt to match amanufacturer pre-programmed verbal message stored in the electronicmemory 140 or to, instead, select a manufacturer pre-programmed verbalmessage stored in the electronic memory 140 to be audibly emitted whenan environmental condition is sensed, if the user no longer wishes torecord a verbal message in his or her own voice. Once a user's recordedverbal message is validated as a match to a manufacturer pre-programmedverbal message, the user's recorded message is electronically identifiedto be audibly emitted in the user's voice when an environmentalcondition is sensed by the environmental condition sensor 150, theset-up mode is exited.

The flow diagram in FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of the operationallogic of the set-up mode of the environmental condition detector withvalidated personalized verbal messages 100 whereby a user can option torecord a person's name in his or her own voice that will be audiblyemitted along with any other verbal messages when an environmentalcondition is sensed. Once the set-up mode is entered, the user isvisually, audibly, or otherwise prompted to decide if he or she wishesto record a person's name in their own voice. If the user wishes torecord a person's name, the person speaks the name into the audio inputtransducer 110 when prompted. If the user does not wish to record aperson's name in his or her own voice, then the user activates thefunctional control interface 180 to visually, audibly, or otherwisefurther prompt the user to speak a selected message into the audio inputtransducer 110, and the user's spoken message is recorded intoelectronic memory 140. The user's recorded message may contain a singleword, a phrase(s) or a sentence(s). The speech recognition and messagematching circuitry 120 under control of the electronic control circuitry130 attempts to electronically match the message phoneme(s), word(s),phrase(s), or sentence(s) to at least one manufacturer pre-programmedmessage stored in the electronic memory 140. If the speech recognitionand message matching circuitry 120 under control of the electroniccontrol circuitry 130 determines that the user's recorded verbal messagematches a manufacturer pre-programmed verbal message, then the user'srecorded verbal message is validated and the message is electronicallyidentified to be audibly emitted in the user's voice when anenvironmental condition is sensed by the environmental condition sensor150. If the speech recognition and message matching circuitry 120 undercontrol of the electronic control circuitry 130 determines that theuser's recorded verbal message does not match a manufacturerpre-programmed verbal message, the user's verbal message is rejected andthe user is visually, audibly, or otherwise prompted to re-record averbal message to attempt to match a manufacturer pre-programmed verbalmessage stored in the electronic memory 140. Once a user's recordedverbal message is validated as a match to a manufacturer pre-programmedverbal message, the user's recorded verbal message is electronicallyidentified to be audibly emitted in the user's voice when anenvironmental condition is sensed by the environmental condition sensor150, the set-up mode is exited.

The flow diagram in FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of the operationallogic of the set-up mode of the environmental condition detector withvalidated personalized verbal messages 100 whereby a user may option torecord a person's name in their own voice as a portion of the verbalmessage to be audibly emitted when an environmental condition is sensedand also whereby a user may option to use a manufacturer recorded verbalmessage to be audibly emitted when an environmental condition is sensedif the user does not wish to record a message in their own voice. Oncethe set-up mode is entered, the user is visually, audibly, or otherwiseprompted decide if he or she wishes to record a person's name in theirown voice. If the user wishes to record a person's name, the personspeaks the name into the audio input transducer 110 when prompted. Ifthe user's does not wish to record a person's name in his or her ownvoice, then the user activates the functional control interface 180 tovisually, audibly, or otherwise further prompt the user if he or shewants to record a message in his or her own voice. If the user's doesnot wish to record a message in his or her own voice, then the useractivates the functional control interface 180 or verbally responds toadvance to an audibly played menu of manufacturer pre-programmedmessages from which the user can, by activating the functional controlinterface 180, select a message to be audibly emitted in themanufacturer pre-programmed voice when an environmental condition issensed by the environmental condition sensor 150. The set-up mode isthen exited. However, if the user does wish to record a message in hisor her own voice, then the user is visually, audibly, or otherwiseprompted to speak his or her selected message into the audio inputtransducer 110 and the user's spoken message is recorded into electronicmemory 140. The user's recorded message may contain a single word, aphrase(s), or sentence(s). The speech recognition and message matchingcircuitry 120 under control of the electronic control circuitry 130attempts to electronically match the message phoneme(s), word(s),phrase(s), or sentence(s) to at least one manufacturer pre-programmedmessage stored in the electronic memory 140. If the speech recognitionand message matching circuitry 120 under control of the electroniccontrol circuitry 130 determines that the user's recorded verbal messagematches a manufacturer pre-programmed verbal message, then the user'srecorded verbal message is validated and the message is electronicallyidentified to be audibly emitted in the user's voice when anenvironmental condition is sensed by the environmental condition sensor150. If the speech recognition and message matching circuitry 120 undercontrol of the electronic control circuitry 130 determines that theuser's recorded verbal message does not match a manufacturerpre-programmed verbal message, the user's verbal message is rejected andthe user is visually, audibly, or otherwise prompted to re-record averbal message to attempt to match a manufacturer pre-programmed verbalmessage stored in the electronic memory 140. Once a user's recordedverbal message is validated as a match to a manufacturer pre-programmedverbal message, the user's recorded verbal message is electronicallyidentified to be audibly emitted in the user's voice when anenvironmental condition is sensed by the environmental condition sensor150, the set-up mode is exited.

In another embodiment of the invention (FIG. 7), during a period when anenvironmental condition sensor 350 senses an environmental condition,the electronic control circuitry 330 emits an audible alarm via theaudio output transducer 360 to notify persons in the vicinity of theenvironmental condition detector that a potentially hazardous conditionis being sensed. In one embodiment, the audible alarm comprises apersonalized verbal message selected by the user in the user's voice.The audible alarm may also comprise a tonal pattern. During the set-upmode, the environmental condition detector with validated personalizedverbal messages 300 is interfaced to a personal computing device 395such as, but not limited to, a laptop computer, desktop computer, PDA,smart cell phone, and a task-specific computing device for the specificpurpose of setting-up an environmental condition detector with validatedpersonalized verbal messages 300. The personal computing device 395 isused, among other things, to update firmware/software and manufacturerpre-programmed messages in the electronic memory 340. In one embodiment,the manufacturer pre-programmed messages are stored on a removablecomputer readable media provided by the manufacturer of theenvironmental condition detector with validated personalized verbalmessages 300 or can be downloaded from the internet to a personalcomputing device 395. During the set-up mode of the environmentalcondition detector with validated personalized verbal messages 300, thepersonal computing device 395 is interfaced via a personal computingdevice interface 390 to the electronic control circuitry 330 of theenvironmental condition detector with validated personalized verbalmessages 300. In one embodiment, the speech recognition and messagematching software resides in the personal computing device 395 to makeuse of CPU power of the personal computing device 395 and to simplifythe electronics and processing requirements of the environmentalcondition detector with validated personalized verbal messages 300 withregards to speech recognition which is typically needed only during theset-up mode. The optional audio input device 310 can either be includedin the environmental condition detector with validated personalizedverbal messages 300 or a microphone connected to or built into thepersonal computing device 395 can be used instead to receive the user'sverbal message. Once the speech recognition and message matchingsoftware determines that a user's recorded verbal message matches one ofthe manufacturer pre-programmed message stored in the memory of thepersonal computing device 395 or on the computer readable media providedby the manufacturer, the user's recorded verbal message is validated andentered into the electronic memory 340 of the environmental conditiondetector with validated personalized verbal messages 300 so that thevalidated user's recorded verbal message is audibly emitted when anenvironmental condition detector is sensed. Once the set-up mode of theenvironmental condition detector with validated personalized verbalmessages 300 is completed, the personal computing device 395 may bedisconnected from the environmental condition detector with validatedpersonalized verbal messages 300. The personal computing deviceinterface 390 between the electronic control circuitry 330 and apersonal computing device 395 comprises, without limitation, one of ahardwired interface, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a wirelessinterface (WiFi, Bluetooth®, etc), an optical interface, etc. Theoperational logic of the set-up mode of the environmental conditiondetector with validated personalized verbal messages 300 also followsthe set-up mode flow diagrams of FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 withthe personal computing device 395 handling the speech recognition andmessage matching and providing the prompting of the user to makedecisions whether to record a person's name or to use a manufacturerpre-programmed message instead of recording his or her own message inhis or her own voice. In one embodiment of the environmental conditiondetector with validated personalized verbal messages 300, the personalcomputing device 395 displays a graphical user interface on the videooutput screen of the personal computing device 395 to guide the userthrough the set-up mode of the environmental condition detector withvalidated personalized verbal messages 300.

In at least one embodiment of the invention, the message matching policyused is based on an ordered phoneme by phoneme, word by word, or phraseby phrase match of the manufacturer pre-programmed verbal messages withan ordered phoneme by phoneme, word by word or phrase by phrase match ofthe user's verbal message after the user's verbal message has beenanalyzed and reduced to an electrical signal or mathematical form by thespeech recognition and message matching circuitry 120. In oneembodiment, if at least one word between the user's verbal message andthe manufacturer pre-programmed verbal message does not match in anordered word by word or phrase by phrase comparison, then the speechrecognition and message matching circuitry 120 under control of theelectronic control circuitry 130 determines that a message match has notoccurred. In other words, in at least one embodiment, both the words andthe order of the words of the message must match as determined by thespeech recognition and message matching circuitry 120 for messagevalidation to occur. It is understood that matching of phonemes, words,phrases, or messages can mean matching of electronic signals ormathematical forms or speech templates corresponding to words ormessages after words or messages have been analyzed by the speechrecognition and message matching circuitry 120 under control of theelectronic control circuitry 130. It is also understood in the art ofspeech recognition that matching of electrical signals or mathematicalforms, coded patterns, or speech templates involves a degree of at leastone error tolerance range of acceptance as a design choice specified andpre-defined by the manufacturer to define a message match by comparingat least one parameter characteristic of respective electrical signalsor respective mathematical forms. Message matching means the respectiveelectronic or mathematical forms of the phonemes, words or phrases ofthe user's message match, within a pre-defined speech recognition errortolerance or error probability, the manufacturer pre-recorded message(s)when reduced to electrical signals, mathematical forms, speech templatesor other speech recognition parameters or forms known in the art.

Speech recognition includes, but is not limited to, the analysis ofaudible verbal messages often involving a conversion of an acousticsignal to an analog or a digital signal that can be furtherelectronically processed by known methods and algorithms in speechrecognition arts such as, but not limited to, fast Fourier transforms(FFT), filtering, amplification, attenuation, linear predictive coding(LPC), dynamic time warping (DTW), pattern recognition, coding patterns,neural networks analysis, hidden Markov modeling (HMM), vocal tracknormalization, maximum likelihood linear regression, maximum likelihoodlinear transformation, speech frame comparison, speech templatecomparison, natural language processing, probabilistic prediction,feature numbers, and other algorithms known to the art of speechrecognition.

It is understood that the term “circuitry” used herein is meant toinclude both hardware circuit components along with anyfirmware/software executing within hardware circuit components.

It is understood that the manufacturer pre-programmed message stored inelectronic memory 140 can be stored in various forms including but notlimited to a digital form, a mathematical form, a coded pattern form, aspeech template form, a speech frame form, a digitally compressed form,a reduced analyzed form, a pre-processed form, etc.

The various embodiments described above are merely descriptive and arein no way intended to limit the scope of the invention. Modificationwill become obvious to those skilled in the art in light of the detaileddescription above, and such modifications are intended to fall withinthe scope of the appended claims. It is to be understood that nolimitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein isintended or should be inferred.

1. An environmental condition detector comprising: electronic controlcircuitry; speech recognition and message matching circuitry connectedto the electronic control circuitry; an environmental condition sensorconnected to the electronic control circuitry; an audio outputtransducer connected to the electronic control circuitry; electronicmemory connected to the electronic control circuitry; at least onemanufacturer pre-programmed message stored in the electronic memory; thespeech recognition and message matching circuitry analyzes auser-provided verbal message and rejects the user-provided verbalmessage when the user-provided verbal message fails to match the atleast one manufacturer pre-recorded message stored in the electronicmemory; the speech recognition and message matching circuitry validatesa user-provided verbal message when the user-provided verbal messagematches a manufacturer pre-recorded message stored in the electronicmemory; and the validated, user-provided verbal message is emitted inthe voice of the user through the audio output transducer when theenvironmental condition sensor senses an environmental condition.
 2. Theenvironmental condition detector in claim 1 wherein the user-providedverbal message is spoken into a microphone, connected to the speechrecognition and message matching circuitry, by a user after a verbalprompt is emitted from the audio output transducer.
 3. The environmentalcondition detector in claim 2 wherein the verbal prompt is amanufacturer pre-recorded message delivered in at least two differentaudible, sequential message segments whereby the sequential messagesegments are verbally repeated into the microphone by the user asprompted.
 4. The environmental condition detector in claim 2 whereinafter a pre-set number of rejections of a user-provided message by thespeech recognition circuitry and message matching circuitry, the user isno longer prompted to repeat a verbal message.
 5. The environmentalcondition detector in claim 2 wherein the microphone receives a verbalmessage from the user in a set-up mode of operation.
 6. Theenvironmental condition detector in claim 1 wherein the environmentalcondition sensor is positioned in a remote location with respect to acentral control panel.
 7. The environmental condition detector of claim1 wherein, during a set-up mode, a person's name is recorded intoelectronic memory to be emitted in the voice of the user through theaudio output transducer when an environmental condition is sensed. 8.The environmental condition detector in claim 1 wherein theenvironmental condition sensor comprises any one of a smoke sensor, afire sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, a gas sensor, a thermal sensor, amotion sensor, a vibration sensor, a glass break sensor, an intrusionsensor, a magnetic switch sensor, an optical sensor, an earthquakesensor, an image sensor, a water sensor, a wave sensor, a pressuresensor, a radiation sensor, or an acoustic sensor.
 9. The environmentalcondition detector of claim 1 wherein the environmental condition sensorcomprises both a smoke sensor and a carbon monoxide sensor.
 10. Theenvironmental condition detector of claim 1 wherein the electroniccontrol circuitry, the speech recognition and message matchingcircuitry, the electronic memory, the audio output transducer, and theenvironmental condition sensor are contained within a housing.
 11. Anenvironmental condition detector comprising: electronic controlcircuitry; an environmental condition sensor coupled to the electroniccontrol circuitry; an audio input transducer coupled to the electroniccontrol circuitry; an audio output transducer coupled to the electroniccontrol circuitry; speech recognition and message matching circuitrycoupled to the electronic control circuitry; electronic memory coupledto the electronic control circuitry; at least one manufacturerpre-programmed message stored in the electronic memory; the audio inputtransducer receives an audible verbal message spoken by a user during aset-up mode whereby the speech recognition and message matchingcircuitry analyzes the verbal message and rejects the verbal messagewhen the verbal message fails to match the at least one manufacturerpre-recorded message stored in the electronic memory; the speechrecognition and message matching circuitry validates the verbal messageas comprising safe content when the verbal message matches amanufacturer pre-recorded message stored in the electronic memory; andthe validated, verbal message is emitted, in the voice of the user,through the audio output transducer.
 12. The environmental conditiondetector of claim 11 wherein, during the set-up mode, a user records aperson's name to be emitted in the user's voice through the audio outputtransducer when an environmental condition is sensed.
 13. Theenvironmental condition detector in claim 11 wherein the environmentalcondition sensor comprises any one of a smoke sensor, a fire sensor, acarbon monoxide sensor, a gas sensor, a thermal sensor, a motion sensor,a vibration sensor, a glass break sensor, an intrusion sensor, amagnetic switch sensor, an optical sensor, an earthquake sensor, animage sensor, a water sensor, a wave sensor, a pressure sensor, aradiation sensor, or an acoustic sensor.
 14. An environmental conditiondetector comprising: electronic circuitry; an environmental conditionsensor connected to the electronic circuitry; an audio output transducerconnected to the electronic circuitry; the electronic circuitry furthercomprises speech recognition circuitry; the speech recognition circuitryanalyzes a user-recorded verbal message and rejects the user-recordedverbal message when the user-recorded verbal message fails to match amanufacturer pre-recorded message stored in the electronic memory; auser-recorded verbal message is analyzed by the speech recognitioncircuitry and is validated when the user-recorded verbal message matchesa manufacturer pre-recorded message stored in the electronic memory; andthe validated, user-recorded, verbal message is audibly emitted in thevoice of a user through the audio output transducer when theenvironmental condition sensor senses an environmental condition. 15.The environmental condition detector in claim 14 wherein theenvironmental condition sensor comprises any one of a smoke sensor, afire sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, a gas sensor, a thermal sensor, amotion sensor, a vibration sensor, a glass break sensor, an intrusionsensor, a magnetic switch sensor, an optical sensor, an earthquakesensor, an image sensor, a water sensor, a wave sensor, a pressuresensor, a radiation sensor, or an acoustic sensor.
 16. The environmentalcondition detector in claim 14 wherein the user is notified by a verbalprompt to record a verbal message.
 17. The environmental conditiondetector in claim 16 wherein the verbal prompt is a manufacturerpre-recorded message delivered in at least two different audible,sequential message segments whereby the sequential message segments areverbally repeated into the microphone by the user as prompted.
 18. Anenvironmental condition detector comprising: electronic controlcircuitry; an environmental condition sensor connected to the electroniccontrol circuitry; speech recognition and message matching circuitryconnected to the electronic control circuitry; a microphone connected tothe speech recognition and message matching circuitry; electronic memoryconnected to the electronic control circuitry; an audio outputtransducer connected to the electronic control circuitry; at least onemanufacturer pre-recorded message stored in the electronic memory; themicrophone receives a verbal message spoken by a user; the speechrecognition and message matching circuitry analyzes the user's verbalmessage and rejects the user's verbal message when the user's verbalmessage fails to match a manufacturer pre-recorded message stored in theelectronic memory; the speech recognition and message matching circuitryvalidates the user's verbal message as comprising safe content when theuser's verbal message matches a manufacturer pre-recorded message storedin the electronic memory; and the validated user's verbal message isemitted, in the voice of the user, through the audio output transducerwhen the environmental condition sensor senses an environmentalcondition.
 19. The environmental condition detector in claim 18 whereina user is prompted to repeat a verbal message after a previous verbalmessage was rejected by the speech recognition and message matchingcircuitry.
 20. The environmental condition detector in claim 19 whereinafter a pre-set number of rejections of a verbal message by the speechrecognition circuitry and message matching circuitry, the user is nolonger prompted to repeat a verbal message.
 21. The environmentalcondition detector of claim 20 wherein the electronic control circuitryaudibly emits a default manufacturer pre-recorded message through theaudio output transducer when the environmental condition sensor sensesan environmental condition.
 22. The environmental condition detector inclaim 18 wherein a user speaks the verbal message into the microphoneafter a verbal prompt is emitted from the audio output transducer. 23.The environmental condition detector in claim 22 wherein the verbalprompt is a manufacturer pre-recorded prompt message delivered in atleast two different audible, sequential message segments whereby thesequential message segments are verbally repeated into the microphone bythe user as prompted for each message segment.
 24. The environmentalcondition detector in claim 18 wherein the environmental conditionsensor comprises any one of a smoke sensor, a fire sensor, a carbonmonoxide sensor, a gas sensor, a thermal sensor, a motion sensor, avibration sensor, a glass break sensor, an intrusion sensor, a magneticswitch sensor, an optical sensor, an earthquake sensor, an image sensor,a water sensor, a wave sensor, a pressure sensor, a radiation sensor, oran acoustic sensor.